Hundreds of Tourists Stranded on Yemen’s Socotra Island Amid Regional Power Struggle

Hundreds of foreign tourists have been left stranded on Yemen’s remote Socotra island after all commercial flights were suspended, exposing how a widening power struggle in the country is affecting even its most isolated regions. The flight disruption has been linked to tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose competing interests in Yemen have triggered administrative and security complications on the island.

Socotra, a UNESCO-listed archipelago in the Arabian Sea known for its rare biodiversity and relatively peaceful environment, has largely escaped the violence of Yemen’s long-running civil war. However, recent developments have disrupted this fragile calm. Flights to and from the island were halted after Emirati forces, which had been overseeing airport operations, reportedly withdrew following pressure from Saudi Arabia. The withdrawal created a sudden vacuum in airport management, forcing authorities to suspend air services.

Local officials said more than 400 tourists from different countries, including Europe, Russia, the United States and China, are currently unable to leave the island. Many visitors had arrived during the New Year holiday period and now face uncertainty over travel arrangements, accommodation and onward connections. With limited transport alternatives, several tourists have reportedly contacted their embassies seeking assistance.

The crisis on Socotra reflects broader tensions on Yemen’s mainland, where Saudi-backed government forces and UAE-aligned southern separatists remain at odds. While the two Gulf allies have worked together in Yemen in the past, their diverging political and military goals have increasingly complicated governance and security, with knock-on effects in areas far from active fighting.

Yemeni officials have indicated that efforts are underway to restore air connectivity. Plans are reportedly being discussed to resume flights via mainland Yemen, with onward connections to Saudi Arabia, allowing stranded tourists to return home in phases.